Recap: No. 10 Xavier Takes Duquesne, 75-48

Nationally-ranked Xavier's 18-2 run to close the first half was enough for the Musketeers 75-48 victory over Duquesne, Thursday night at the Cintas Center in snowbound Cincinnati.

Box Score

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Duquesne senior Reggie Jackson had team-bests of 12 points and three assists while junior Shawn James added 11 to go along with seven blocked shots and six rebounds. Senior Gary Tucker (6-1) had three steals and tied James with a half-dozen rebounds.

Duquesne made the first five points, and then were up 15-11 before Xavier regained the lead on C.J. Anderson's layup, 16-15, at 11:17 of the first half. DU got within three (27-24) on Bill Clark's three-pointer four minutes later.

Xavier (23-4, 11-1) scored 18 of the final 20 points for a 45-26 lead at halftime.

Duquesne (16-9, 6-6) battled in the second half. The Muskies biggest margin, prior to the final 2½ minutes, was 24 points (60-36) at 12:23.

Duquesne got the deficit back to 19, 64-45, on Reggie Jackson's jump shot at 6:29 but that was it.

XU's 27-point victory helped answer the Dukes' upset victory, 93-91, last season in Pittsburgh.

Four Muskies finished in double digits with three at 13 points (C.J. Anderson, Derrick Brown, B.J. Raymond).

Jason Love scored 12 and had three blocks. Brown had 11 rebounds, Anderson 10. Stanley Burrell assisted on 12 field goals.

Xavier outrebounded the Dukes by nine (42/33) and had three fewer turnovers (15/12) while shooting 47.5 percent from the floor. DU hit 19-of-60 from the floor (31.7%).

Duquesne next hosts La Salle Sunday, February 24, 2008. DU won 101-84 two weeks ago in Philadelphia. (LSU is one of three A-10 teams DU meets twice this season.)

Tonight, the Explorers (12-13, 6-5) upset Dayton (17-8, 5-7) in overtime, 81-78, at their Tom Gola Arena.